84 Best Sights in Luxembourg

Luxembourg's raison d'être juts dramatically out over the Alzette river valley. This cliff served as the principal approach to the town as far back as Celtic and Roman times, until bridges were constructed. The name comes from the Celtic büück, meaning the promontory supporting a castle. Over its farthest point looms the ruined tower of the castle of Sigfried himself, father of the city. He founded the fortress Lucilinburhuc in 963; it was later expanded from this dominant point by countless invaders until the walls were finally razed in 1875.

The main reason to visit are the labyrinth of underground defensive tunnels, known as the Casemates du Bock. These were first built in 1644 by Spain and were expanded some 40 years later to include 23 km (14 miles) of underground galleries. Tours of the casements are one of the delights of the city. 

Around 16 km (10 miles) east of Esch-sur-Sûre, you'll encounter the small town of Bourscheid. You'll likely drive through en route, so make sure to detour along the quiet, winding road up to the ruins of Bourscheid Castle. The building dates back to 1000 AD and was ruled by the Lords of Bourscheid for four centuries. 

The oldest parts of Clervaux Castle date back to the 12th century, when it was built on the order of Count Gerhard von Sponheim, a brother of the Count of Vianden. Over the centuries it expanded greatly, and it was from here that Philip de Lannoi (the ascendant of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) set forth in 1621 to make his fortune in America. But in the dying days of World War II, the first engagements of Germany's Ardennes Counteroffensive (Battle of the Bulge) saw the town and its historic buildings destroyed, as the tanks rolled in. The burned ruins of the castle fell into state hands thereafter, and it was heavily rebuilt. Inside, you'll now find a number of museums and exhibits, including the tiny Museum of the Battle of the Bulge, though this is little signed and is mostly a collection of weapons and shrapnel, and a museum of 1/100 scale models of Luxembourg's castle. But pride of place goes to The Family of Man exhibition of photography, the greatest artistic sight in the country. Two entire floors are taken up by this UNESCO-listed exhibition that was curated and assembled by the Luxembourg-born photographer Edward J. Steichen (1879--1973). In 1951, he invited entries for a collection of images that would record mankind in all its flawed wonder and mystery. He whittled the entries down from 2 million to around 500 and toured them around the world. Since 1994, it has been exhibited in Clervaux and remains one of the world's great cultural sights, charting war, life, death, happiness, sadness, family, and everything in between in simple black-and-white prints. A must-see. 

Driving around the last bend into Vianden, you're greeted by a full-length view of Vianden Castle rearing up on the hill, replete with conical spires, crenellation, step gables, and massive bulwarks. The castle was built on Roman foundations at the turn of the first millennium, though its most spectacular portions date from the 11th, 12th, and 15th centuries. Its near-pristine appearance is the result of massive restoration in the 20th century.

Around 15 km (9 miles) west of Echternach, at the top of the Ernz Noire valley, a short detour leads to Beaufort. Near the village stand two splendid castles, side by side: a magnificently imposing medieval shell only partially restored after World War II bombing left it in ruins, and a Renaissance-style chateau dating from the 17th century. 

Just 7 km (4½ miles) east of Esch-sur-Alzette, Dudelange is known as the most “Mediterranean” town in Luxembourg. It's certainly not for the weather. It stems from the fact that around 70% of its 17,000 residents are of Italian or Portuguese heritage, as the descendants of immigrant workers who came here at the height of the mining boom. At the heart of its Little Italy neighborhood, in an old railway station, you can seek out the Centré de Documentation sur les Migrations Humaines (www.cdmh.lu), one of the more enlightening exhibitions and tours in the Grand Duchy, exploring the country's rich history of migration and occupation. This town certainly has a long history of visitors. Romans first set up camp here at the base of what is now Mt. St.-Jean. The site was later a stop during the Crusades, and by the 12th century it was the location of a church built for the Order of the Brethren of St. Jean of Jerusalem. The current castle ruins—which include the foundation, a small chapel, and a tower—date from the 1550s. Atop Mt. St.-Jean, the commanding view south stares deep into France.

This small valley lies around 10 km (6 miles) northwest of Esch-sur-Alzette, and was once the heart of the country's mining industry, connected via a pair of railway lines: one to ship equipment and ore in and out of nearby Pétange; another to transport the workers to the mining village of Lasauvage or into France. It was still operating by the 1960s. In summer, visitors can ride trains into the old mining tunnels, pedal a "draisine" (€10) along the tracks, see rail and mining museums, and tour the old villages where the miners once lived. July also sees the arrival of blues and steampunk festivals. 

This gem of a gallery, on the western edge of the Kirchberg plateau, is as much an architectural landmark as it is a museum. The designs of architect I.M. Pei make this stunning edifice as eye-catching as the works of modern art on show within. The building is a mix of limestone and glass—the latter formed into pyramids that both mimic the church spires of the old city across the Alzette valley, and echo Pei's similar work for the Louvre in Paris. The museum's interior is light and airy and the perfect foil for the changing exhibitions by internationally renowned contemporary artists. There are no permanent displays, so repeat visits are always rewarding. Entrance is free between 6 and 9 pm on Wednesday. 

Luxembourg was deeply scarred by World War II. The Musée de la Résistance honors its Resistance fighters and is the home of the country's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Exhibits focus on the plight of Luxembourg's Jewish population and other communities that were lost during the war. It has recently been renovated in time for its 2022 reopening. 

Echternach was founded in 698 by St. Willibrord, who came from Northumbria. He established a Benedictine abbey, which thrived until it was razed during the French invasion of 1794. It was rebuilt twice thereafter: first in the 19th century, and then again after it was destroyed in World War II. All the while, the relics of the saint remained safe in the crypt. Beneath the carving of the tomb's neoclassical marble canopy, you can still glimpse the simple tooled stone sarcophagus cut in the 7th century. 

The reservoir was dammed in 1961 to create a long-term source of drinking water for Luxembourg. Chunks of it are still off-limits because of this, but there's plenty to explore. In summer, solar-powered boats (May–October) take you on two-hour tours of the water. Mercifully, no motorboats are allowed here, but on warm days the lake fills with windsurfers, paddlers, and wild swimmers. You can rent canoes, kayaks, and SUPs from the youth hostel in Lultzhausen in July and August, and for walkers, there are some 90 km (56 miles) of trails to explore (maps are at the visitor center). But if you'd rather relax, several beaches line the shores at Insenborn, Lultzhausen, and across the water at Liefrange, with a more secluded stretch found just past the Burfelt viewing platform. This is where locals come to escape for the day. 

The Benedictine Abbey of Sts. Maurice and Maur was built in 1910 in the neo-Gothic style of France's famous Abbey of Cluny. It sits perched high above the town and the monks here lead a life of strict prayer and meditation. The abbey is best known for its Gregorian plainchant, which has even been released on albums. Daily visits are limited, though you can see a museum on abbey life in the crypt and visit the friendly shop (2:30–5:30 weekdays; 11:30–5:30 weekends), which sells apple juice made by the monks. 

You can pick up the map for this architectural walk (free) at the tourism office in town. The route is a breezy 5 km (3 miles) and is a great way to explore a city that, on the surface at least, doesn't appear all that attractive at first. Much of the center was built at the turn of the 20th century, as the iron-ore industry gathered steam. Architects were shipped in from France, Belgium, and Germany, with the era's dominating styles of neo-Gothic, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau seen across magnificent turreted corner houses, the stately town hall, and imperious mansions built for the moguls of the era. 

Berdorf is a small town just 6 km (4 miles) west of Echternach. It has built up a name for itself as a vibrant center for rock climbing and hiking and is surrounded by interesting trails rising up from the plateau and passing through gorges, grottoes, rocks, and fissures. It's a popular base for hikes, with maps and guides to the area found in the local Tourism Information. If you still crave sights, the 55-meter-high Aquatower (www.aquatower-berdorf.lu) overlooking the town ironically contains a rather dry museum on drinking water, but the view from the top is worth the visit. 

In the early 1900s, the town's Belval neighborhood was home to the biggest ironworks site in Luxembourg. The last furnace was decommissioned in 1997 and the complex now houses a university and the country's biggest music venue, Rockhal. The renovated Furnace A is now open to the public. 

Luxembourg's mini–Wall Street was once the main moat of the fortress. Lined with as many of the 225 foreign financial institutions as could squeeze onto the five-block street, boulevard Royal is the symbol of a financial center where the securities-trading operation has a higher turnover than that of the New York Stock Exchange. The pinstripe suits can get some relief from their labors by gazing at Niki de St. Phalle's large and brightly colored statue, La Tempérance, which adorns their street.

Following the green Sûre valley toward Goebelsmühle—along a quiet, winding road that is one of the most picturesque in the grand duchy—look for signs for Bourscheid Moulin-Plage, where you'll see the romantic ruins of Bourscheid Castle. It looms 500 ft above the Sûre River, with commanding views of three valleys. Restorations have made this rambling hodgepodge of towers and walls more accessible; the views are magnificent and there's a snack bar.

Built in the late-Gothic style, this cathedral has a fine portal sculpted by Daniel Muller of Freiburg and an attractive Baroque organ gallery. During the fortnight of national pilgrimage starting on the third Sunday after Easter, large numbers of Luxembourgers flock to their cathedral. The closing ceremony, attended by the royal family, is an event no politician can afford to miss, regardless of party and persuasion. The crypt, down a broad staircase, contains the tomb of John the Blind, the gallant 14th-century king of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg, who fell at the Battle of Crécy in France during the Hundred Years' War. Here, too, are the tombs of the grand-ducal dynasty.

The Caves Bernard-Massard is an independent vintner specializing in sparkling wines. Its output is among the largest in Luxembourg, and delicious. Tours, including tastings, are available.

About 2 km (1 mile) up the hill from Bech-Kleinmacher, in the tiny village of Wellenstein, is the visitor center for the Vinsmoselle company, a collection of cooperatives that bring together a huge number of the small wineries in the Moselle area. The cellars have been in continual use for over 100 years and are surrounded by 2,223 acres of vineyards. Tours of the facility and tastings take about one hour; it's a good opportunity to try the local ice and straw wines.

The Caves des Vignerons de Wellenstein is 2 km (1¼ mi) up the hill from Bech-Kleinmacher, in the tiny village of Wellenstein. This is one of the visitor centers for the Domaines de Vinsmoselle company, a cooperative of many of Luxembourg's smaller wine growers. A one-hour stop here will allow you to take in a film about Moselle wines, a tour of the facility, and tastings. The caves—the largest in the country—have been in continual use for over 100 years and are surrounded by 900 hectares of vineyards.

The independent vintner Caves Gloden is based in Schengen. Because of its small production, on site is one of the few places where you can try its fine white wines.

Because of its small production, this is one of the few places where you can try the sweet white wines of this small independent producer. Their tasting room is open on Sunday (3–7) and by appointment during the week.

Caves St-Martin is a small independent vinter producing white wines, sparkling wines, and grape juices. You can tour the facilities and taste some of the products in the lovely pavilion.

In Wormeldange stop at the Cellars of Pol-Fabaire, which specializes in crémant (Luxembourg's answer to champagne). In addition to tastings, this winery also offers walking tours through its gracefully sloping vineyards. The café has light fare.

With over half of Luxembourg's population being foreign-born, immigration-related issues are central to the country's economic, political, and cultural structure. At the Centré de Documentation sur les Migrations Humaines these issues are explored through rotating exhibitions. In the heart of Dudelange's Little Italy neighborhood in an old railway station, this enlightening museum is considered one of the most important throughout the grand duchy.

For a touch of high culture, visit the Centre des Arts Pluriels, on the Semois River. Opened in 2000, this performing-arts venue has a concert hall, a music conservatory, and a theater.

With its bas-relief of the Countess Ermesinde granting Luxembourg its charter of freedom in 1244, the former municipal building hosts occasional art exhibitions. Admission is always free, but check with the tourist office for event dates and times. A new enclosed glass footbridge links the north side of the building to the Cité complex across Rue Genistre. The latter, a former movie theater, now houses the municipal library.

At the top of the Ernz Noire valley, a short detour leads to Beaufort. Just west of the village, a splendid ruin, the Château de Beaufort, only partially restored to its 15th-century form, rises over green grounds full of sheep and forests laced with walking trails. You can step into guard towers with archers' slits, look down wells, visit the kitchen fireplace, cross a drawbridge, and ogle torture equipment, including a rack, in a dungeon. At the ticket counter, you can buy (drink) samples of the local kirsch and cassis. An easy nature walk is across the street.